Months before the megachurch Hillsong opened its new outpost in Atlanta, its pastor sought advice on how to build a church in a pandemic.<\/p>\n
From Facebook.<\/p>\n
The social media giant had a proposition, Sam Collier, the pastor, recalled in an interview: to use the church as a case study to explore how churches can \u201cgo further farther on Facebook.\u201d<\/p>\n
For months Facebook developers met weekly with Hillsong and explored what the church would look like on Facebook and what apps they might create for financial giving, video capability or livestreaming. When it came time for Hillsong\u2019s grand opening in June, the church issued a news release saying it was \u201cpartnering with Facebook\u201d and began streaming its services exclusively on the platform.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, Mr. Collier could not share many specifics \u2014 he had signed a nondisclosure agreement.<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n The company is intensifying formal partnerships with faith groups across the United States.<\/p>\n Facebook\u2019s Next Target: The Religious Experience https:\/\/t.co\/ZmuZJG2p5c<\/a><\/p>\n — DavidW (@DavidW_340) July 25, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n